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September, 1918 "Masks of Evil"


[Depicted in Masks of Evil, the 17th episode from the Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, produced by George Lucas - released in 1999 - it’s original edit is from The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles; Episode: Istanbul, September 1918 - released in 1993.]


  • The following year Indiana is stationed in Istanbul as a French spy under the guise of a Swedish Journalist named Nils Anderson. His assignment was to meet with the Turkish general Mustafa Kemal to propose a separate peace treaty with France.

  • During this time he falls in love with an American schoolteacher named Molly, who is working at an orphanage run by women rights leader Halide Edib, yet he conceals his true identity for her protection.

  • One day at the orphanage, Indiana finds out that Edib is well known to Kemal, and he requests the possibility of interviewing the general for his article on Turkish nationals. That same evening he takes Molly out for a special dinner at Pera Palace, where still under the cover of Nils Anderson he asks for her hand in marriage.

  • The following day Indiana has his “interview” with Kemal, where he inquires about Turkey’s current relations with Germany, in which Kemal replies that the two nations have much different motives and agendas. He further states that the interests of Germany are not a priority in comparison to upholding the integrity of Turkey.

  • Upon hearing that response Indiana directly asks Kemal if he’d be interested in establishing a separate peace with France, and discreetly makes it known to the general that he has the authority to make it happen. Although interested Kemal is hesitant to agree to any terms at that moment, and instead proposes a more secretive meeting with Indiana at a later point in time.

  • In the following days Indiana discovers that there is a double agent in his unit working to sabotage the treaty, thus the paperwork had fallen into the wrong hands and as a result the security of Kemal was in great question.

  • Nonetheless, Indiana is soon invited to the Palace where he meets with Sultan Mehmed VI, who is glad to meet a member of the press unswayed by the amount of “propaganda” written about both the Turks and Germans.

  • That same day Indiana is still in pursuit of the paperwork, when he’s attacked and stabbed in the arm by the perpetrator who before his death confirms the acts of sabotage in Indy’s unit.

  • The next morning Molly arrives and tends to Indiana’s wound, and later they visit a fortune teller who proclaims that their love will last forever. Upon walking her back to the orphanage, Indiana gives Molly his overcoat as rain drops begin to fall.

  • As Indiana walks back to his headquarters a man slips him a piece of paper with instructions on when and where to meet Kemal. Upon reading the document Kemal is disillusioned about certain provisions that had been made, and decides that if Turkey is to be free nation than they must achieve this on their own terms.

  • On his way home Indiana is stopped by one of his agents who proclaims he’s discovered the double agent, yet before he can say any names he’s shot down in the alleyway, leaving Indiana to run for cover.

  • Back at home base Indiana is then met by Molly, who has since learned that Indiana is not at all who he said he was, and upon hearing the truth in person she’s left hurt and betrayed and vows to never see him again.

  • Later on in the day, however, Molly considers Indiana’s motives as genuine, and she heads back to proclaim her unconditional love for him. Yet simultaneously and without her knowing, Indiana’s headquarters has now been infiltrated by the unknown gunman, and Indy has been left to hide behind furniture as he quickly thinks of a plan.

  • Always resourceful, Indiana is able to burn the documents and build a dummy to uncover the gunman’s location, yet just as his plan seems to work Molly walks through the door still wearing Indy’s overcoat from the day before, and simply in the wrong place at the wrong time she gets shot in a case of clear mistaken identity.

  • Indiana then reveals himself and shoots the perpetrator dead (who was indeed his closest confidant in his unit that he trusted the most) and returns to Molly as they reaffirm their love for one another as she dies in his arms.


  • Thus during this adventure Indiana has direct encounters with:


  • Mustafa Kemal Atatürk - Turkish Army officer, revolutionary, and founder of the Republic of Turkey, serving as it’s first President from 1923 until his death in 1938. He was granted the surname Atatürk which means “Father of the Turks”

  • Halide Edib Adivar - Turkish novelist, nationalist, and political leader for women’s rights.

  • Sultan Mehmed VI - the 36th and last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire reigning from 1918 to 1922. He was overthrown by Turkish nationalists led by Mustafa Kemal.


  • The location in this adventure is:


  • Istanbul - historically recognized as Constantinople and Byzantium - is the most populated city in Turkey and the country’s economic, cultural, and economic center. It’s location surrounds the Bosphorus strait, which separates Europe and Asia between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea.

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